When Youth Decide: Youth Power and Leadership in the Boston Youth Justice Movement

• In Event: Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Youth Voice in Educational Justice

Abstract

Youth organizing is an important vehicle to build leadership and power for youth, but it is often unclear how much decision-making power youth have on major issues vis a vis adult staff. We examine an important case where young people took decision-making control of a large citywide campaign to increase funding for youth employment. We designed this qualitative study collaboratively with a set of youth organizing groups. Data come from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 29 movement participants as well as a review of organizational documents and media accounts. We identify the conditions that led to this kind of youth power, examine the tensions between youth and adults that occurred, and suggest the profound impact the experience had on youth.

Authors

• Mark R. Warren, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Perri Sondra Leviss, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Luke Kupscznk, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Kimberley J Williams, Boston Public Schools

• Matthew Poirier, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Sandeep Jani, University of Massachusetts Boston